Avere says the new funding, expected to be the last before an IPO, will help get the word out about its technology which provides high-performance access to files on third-party arrays or on storage clouds.

NetApp replaced its two high-end FAS family arrays with the new FAS8080 EX, which can be configured as an all-flash array with 5 petabytes of flash storage capacity, and also introduced the new entry-level FAS2500 series.

SanDisk, which since 2011 has been moving away from its flash memory technology developer to become an enterprise flash storage solution provider, will have what may be the industry's widest flash and PCIe portfolio after it closes on the Fusion-io acquisition.

While a large group of EMC's investors continue to hope that EMC will sell parts of itself to create more clear valuation for them, EMC is likely heading in the opposite direction by considering more acquisitions, according to a top analyst.